Cellular floor construction



E. KRY-SINSKI, 3,353,313

CELLULAR FLOOR CONSTRUCT ION Nov. 21, 1967 Filed May 18, 1965 ATTORIWFYS Patented Nov. 21, 1967 3,353,313 CELLULAR FLOOR CONSTRUCTION Edwin Krysinski, Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich., asslgnor to The R. C. Mahon Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed May 18, 1965, Ser. No. 456,746 7 Claims. (Cl. 52100) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The cellular floor construction shown herein comprises complementary cellular upper and lower floor elements wherein the upper element has longitudinally extending flanges contacting the lower element. A plurality of longitudinally spaced circular openings are provided in the lower element underlying one of the flanges and longitudinally spaced tabs are provided adjacent the circular openings and are connected to the lower element by weakened lines. The edge of each flange that overlies the circular openings extends laterally and terminates between the circular openings and the tabs. The tabs can be struck out to permit insertion of a bar stock hanger through the openings thereby formed or the portion of the lower element between the circular openings and the tabs may be bent downwardly to permit insertion of a wire hanger.

This invention relates to cellular floor construction and particularly to a construction for supporting loads beneath the cellular floor.

Cellular floors utilized in building construction generally include -a plurality of longitudinally extending transversely spaced cells that are for-med by upper and lower sheet metal elements and a poured concrete fill over said cells. In practice, it may be required to support both light and heavy loads beneath said cellular floors. For example, light loads such as ceilings, or heavy loads such as piping, duct systems, package heaters, and coolers may be suspended from the ceilings. In the case of light loads, simple wire supports may be adequate whereas in the case of heavy loads, it is desirable to utilize heavy strapping or flat bars for suspending the load.

It is an object of this invention to provide a cellular floor construction wherein either light weight suspension means such as wires or heavy strapping or rigid bars may be used simultaneously or selectively.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a cellular floor construction wherein the suspension structure does not interfere with production or handling of the cellular floor elements and is confined within the normal structural and dimensional limits of the cellular floor units until required for use.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a cellular floor construction wherein the suspension means is such that the tendency for poured concrete to pass through the cellular floor will be minimized.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a cellular floor construction wherein the suspension means can be utilized at any time even after the concrete has been poured.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a cellular floor construction wherein the suspension means can be readily utilized by the use of simple tools.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a transverse sectional view through a floor embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective View of a portion of the cellular unit construction.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the cellular shown in FIG. 1 prior to pouring of the concrete fill.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the manner of utilizing suspension means after the concrete fill has been poured.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the suspension means ready for use.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of a cellular floor element shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view showing another manner of utilizing suspension means after the concrete fill has been poured.

Referring to FIG. 1, the cellular floor construction shown comprises a lower sheet metal element 10 having a straight longitudinally extending lip 11 at one end and a doubled back lip 12 extending longitudinally along the other edge, the lips 11 and 12 of adjacent elements being interlocked by telescoping movement. A plurality of upper elements 13 cooperate with the flat portions of the lower elements 10 to form cells. Each upper element 13 includes longitudinally extending flanges 14 which engage and are welded to the lower element 10.

In accordance with the invention, a plurality of circular openings 15 are provided at longitudinally spaced points along the lower element 10 beneath at least one of the flanges 14 (FIGS. 2, 3, 6). In addition, tabs 16 elongated longitudinally of the cells are provided adjacent each circular opening 15 and spaced therefrom in the portion of the lower element 10 outside of the area of the flange 14. Each tab 16 is held in position in the plane of the lower element 10 by short portions 17 at the ends thereof so that it can be readily knocked out to leave an elongated opening. Any substantial movement of the tab 16 out of its plane of the lower element 10 causes rupture at the portions 17 so that the tab 16 can be removed.

In use, when it is desired to suspend heavy loads, the tabs 16 are struck out of the elements 10 before the concrete fill C is poured over the cells. This leaves an elongated opening 16a through which a bar stock hanger 18 having a hooked end 19 can be provided to suspend the heavy load. The cross section of hanger 18 is substantially the same as that of the opening 16a so that the hanger substantially fills the opening 16a.

In the event that a lighter suspension is required, the intervening portion 20 of lower element 10 between the edge of the circular opening 15 and the tab 16 can be bent downwardly by insertion of a tool T, as shown in FIG. 4, so that a wire 21 can be looped through the opening 15 and the space between the edge of the tab 16 and the portion 20. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the portion 20 can be bent downwardly even after the concrete C has been poured so that a hanger construction is provided that can be used even after the floor is in position.

Another manner of use of the invention is shown in FIG. 7 wherein the tab 16 is removed and then a tool T is inserted through the resultant opening 16a to bend the intervening portion 20 downwardly at an angle so that a wire can be looped through the opening 16a and opening-15.

It can thus be seen that there has been provided a cellular floor construction wherein suspension means are provided for both light and heavy loads simultaneously or selectively; wherein the suspension means lies within the dimensional confines of the cellular construction so it does not interfere with production or handling; which substantially prevents the passage of poured concrete through the floor; which can be utilized at any time even after the concrete has been poured; and which can be readily utilized by the use of simple tools.

I claim:

1. In a cellular floor construction, the combination comprising complementary cellular upper and lower floor elements having juxtaposed portions defining longitudinally extending cells and intervening portions,

each said lower element having a tab provided in the plane of a portion thereof between said cells and connected to said lower element along weakened lines,

each said lower element having an opening adjacent and spacedfromteac-h said tab,

whereby said tab may be struck out to permit a hanger to be inserted into said opening formed by removal of said tab or the part of said lower element between said opening ,and said tab can be bent downwardly out of the plane of said lower element to permit looping of a wire hanger thereto.

2. 1 The combination set forth inclaim 1 including a bar stock hanger having a hooked end extending upwardly into the opening formed by removal of said tab and engaging above said lower element.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 including a layer of concrete overlying said cells and the intervening portions.

4. In a cellular floor construction, the combination comp i ng a lower element,

an upper element cooperating with said lowerelement to .form longitudinally extending spaced cells and intervening portions,

each of said upper element having longitudinally extending flanges contacting the lower element,

a plurality of longitudinally spaced circular openings inthe lower element underlying one of said flanges, a plurality of longitudinally .spaced tabs adjacent said circular openings ,and connected to the lower tele- .m ntby w ak dlines,

the edge ,of said flange which overlies said circular openings extending laterally and terminating between said circular, openings andsaid tabs,

whereby said tabscan-be struck out to permitinsertion of abanstock hangenthrough the openings thereby .-for;ned orsaidportion of said lower element between id circular opening and said tab may be bentdown- ;;wardly to permit insertion of a wire hanger.

5. In ,acellular floor construction, the combination sompri s complementary cellular floor elements having juxtaposed portions defining'longitudinally extending cells end inter vr n npo ns, saidlowertelementshaving1a tab elongated in the, di-

rectionof saidgcellsproyided in the planeof ,a portionthfi figibgtween s-aidicells and.connected to said lc wer element along weakened lines at the .ends the o said lower :element'having acircular opening adjacent and spacedifrom saidta-b,

whereby: said tab mayibegstruck out topermit a hanger to be inserted into said opening formed by removal of said tab or the part of said lower element between said circular opening and said tab can be bent downwardly out of the plane of said lower element to permit looping of a wire hanger thereto.

6. In a cellular floor construction, the combination comprising a lower element,

an upper element cooperating with said lower element to form longitudinally extending spaced cells and intervening portions,

each said upper element having longitudinally extending flanges contacting the lower element,

a plurality of longitudinally spaced ,circular openings in the lower element underlying one of said flanges,

a plurality of longitudinally spaced tabs elongated in the direction of'said cells adjacent said circular openings and connected to the lower element by weakened lines,

the edge of said flange which overlies said circular openings extending laterally and terminating between said circular openings and said tabs,

whereby said tabs can be struck out to permit insertion of a bar stock hanger through the openings thereby formed or said portion of saidlower element between said circular opening and saidtab may be bent downwardly to permit insertion of a wirehanger.

7. In a cellular floor construction, the combination comprising azlower element,

an upper element cooperating with said lower element to form longitudinally extending spaced cells and intervening portions,

eachsaid upper element having longitudinally extending flanges contacting the lower element, l

a plurality of longitudinally spaced circular openings the lowerelement underlying one of said-flanges,

a p x l p lo i d n spac spe in s elongated .theldirectionofjsaid cells adjacent said circular openings and connected ,to the lower elernent by weakenedlines, i i

th edge pf lsaid flange which overlies saidcircular openings extending laterally and terminating between said: circular openings and said elongated openings.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

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6. IN A CELLULAR FLOOR CONSTRUCTION, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A LOWER ELEMENT, AN UPPER ELEMENT COOPERATING WITH SAID LOWER ELEMENT TO FORM LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SPACED CELLS AND INTERVENING PORTIONS, EACH SAID UPPER ELEMENT HAVING LONGITUDINALLY EXENDING FLANGES CONTACTING THE LOWER ELEMENT, A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINALLY SPACED CIRCULAR OPENINGS IN THE LOWER ELEMENT UNDERLYING ONE OF SAID FLANGES, A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINALLY SPACED TABS ELONGATED IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID CELLS ADJACENT SAID CIRCULAR OPENINGS AND CONNECTED TO THE LOWER ELEMENT BY WEAKENED LINES, THE EDGE OF SAID FLANGE WHICH OVERLIES SAID CIRCULAR OPENINGS EXTENDING LATERALLY AND TERMINATING BETWEEN SAID CIRCULAR OPENINGS AND SAID TABS, WHEREBY SAID TABS CAN BE STRUCK OUT TO PERMIT INSERTION OF A BAR STOCK HANGER THROUGH THE OPENINGS THEREBY FORMED OR SAID PORTION OF SAID LOWER ELEMENT BETWEEN SAID CIRCULAR OPENING AND SAID TAB MAY BE BENT DOWNWARDLY TO PERMIT INSERTION OF A WIRE HANGER. 